With the 2025 NBA Finals being on the cusp of conclusion, it’s time for teams like the Los Angeles Lakers to get active on the trade market.
After all, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 4-1 first-round defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves despite being the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
The most eye-opening flaw in the Lakers’ roster right now is the lack of an elite center. That flaw was majorly exploited by the Timberwolves in the opening round.
Despite that, the Lakers are reportedly in talks to trade for the Utah Jazz’s John Collins, who is a power forward.
Coming on the heels of a season averaging 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, Collins is an excellent player.
Former NBA player Joe Johnson is in favor of the Lakers pursuing Collins to bolster the roster ahead of the 2025-26 season.
“I’m looking for the Lakers to make a big splash. I like John Collins, he played at Atlanta [Hawks] for a little while, I think he’ll be a great addition to those guys.
“He can score it a little bit, defensively he’s solid, and he’ll be the guy who can take the pressure off those guys from night to night, and on any given night, he can have big nights,” Johnson said on the Nightcap podcast.
The Lakers will look toward the trio of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves to score the majority of their points next season. But Johnson believes the Lakers need a guy like Collins to push for an NBA Championship.
“He can get you 25 points, 12 rebounds on any given night, and I think to have a guy like that, you’re going to need that throughout the regular season…
“If you make it to the postseason, to be able to compete in that Western Conference, you need John Collins, you may need a little more help,” Johnson added.
Johnson’s co-host, Shannon Sharpe, isn’t a fan of acquiring Collins, as he wants the Lakers to fix their issues at the center position.
Sharpe believes the Lakers can do that by trading for the Jazz’s Walker Kessler.
“All things being equal, I probably would rather have Kessler. I’d rather have a big kid who can dominate the paint because he’s a great rim protector. He can block shots. He can be a lob threat if needed,” Sharpe stated.
“John Collins is a lob threat. He probably gives you 15 to 17 a night, but they really need a big, they need somebody that can that can block shots, that can protect the paint,” Sharpe concluded.
As Sharpe mentioned, Kessler could solve the Lakers’ longstanding problem at the center position. He averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game this season.
But the most amazing part about Kessler is that he led the league in offensive rebounds with 4.6 boards per game and averaged 2.4 blocks per game, precisely what the Lakers need right now.
